She looks quite comical collecting nesting material in the lagoon reed bed lakeside this A.M. These three cuties paid a visit whilst I was trying to nab the secretive Sedge and Reed warbler…..they were not having any!!!!!.

Delighted to see they came back in my absence.

Went for a walk along the village trail yesterday afternoon and a pair were seen near the brook.

The second survey count in my square produced, on the top of Carngafallt, Three pair of Whinchat and one pair of Stonechat, in the lower part at Blaen-y-cwm there were single pairs of Whinchat, Stonechat and Wheatear, other birds included, three pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker, single pairs of Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Kestral. Elsewhere over the Elan Valley this week, a male  Hobby at Dol-y-mynach, at least 15 cuckoo calling all over, eight Common Sandpiper, two pair of Whinchat and Stonechat, and a single Great Crested Crebe trying out the various reservoirs.

I quite often see small flocks of Linnet in May and following the 12 at Nantmel tip yesterday, another 6 today feeding on dandelions at Rhayader rugby club pitch. Also a Garden Warbler and Redpoll in willow next to the new allotments.The Leylandii surrounding the football pitch have a number of breeding Greenfinch and along the nearby riverside walk Pied Flycatchers are using the nestboxes erected by Rhayader by Nature last year.

Kestrel hunting over the common this evening. Also present were 2 Curlew, 3 Canada Goose, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Red kite and Buzzard.

After checking out the Lesser Whitethroat near Montpelier , we went up the Elan.Wonderful to find Tim the Kite back and doing so well after last year’s op.Great to meet Ed Parsons at last with his group.

Now…birds! Redstarts in quite a few spots ; Wheatears in some numbers ; Willow chiffs everywhere;one Peregrine;one Curlew;pair of Stonechats and a pair of WHINCHATS! hope they do better than last year.

as per usual didn’t manage to insert text with nuthatch pic!  A pair of nuthatches have utilised an old woodpecker hole in one of our trees by almost sealing the hole and leaving a small entrance at the bottom.  The owl chicks have gone now but three mallard chicks remain though seem to be attracting the attention of a sparrowhawk and a kite.

 

Pam

3 Sedge Warblers at Nantmel Tip this afternoon. Also Common Whitethroat displaying, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Reed Bunting, Willow tit, Redstart (2 pairs), Pied Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Greatspotted woodpecker and Stock Dove. In the field opposite the main gate, 12 Linnets fed on dandelions.